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Firm set to close its Devon factory after 30 years

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James Walker Moorflex in Plymouth

A popular firm is closing its Devon factory and is moving staff to its branch in Yorkshire.

James Walker Moorflex, a dynamic global manufacturing organisation that supplies a vast range of high performance fluid sealing products and associated knowledge-based services, will be leaving its current base in Plymouth this December.

Twenty-three members of staff have been offered positions in its other branch in Bingley, West Yorkshire and those who decide not to take up this offer will be offered "outplacement support" to find alternative employment.

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Mr Henri Hakkarainen, director of gaskets and metal machining at James Walker, said: "The market conditions under which James Walker is operating have become increasingly challenging due to intense competition within the gasket industry, resulting in a need for the business to become more agile and to improve operational efficiency.

"James Walker Moorflex has recently completed a consultation process with the 23 staff at its satellite manufacturing location in Plymouth regarding closure of the facility and the transfer of operations to its gasket manufacturing operation at Bingley in Yorkshire."

He added: "The move will reduce complexity and simplify the supply chain to the customer, create greater leverage and scale at the operation at Bingley and improve the long term future and stability of James Walker’s gasket business.

"The company understands that it is a difficult period for those involved and that the announcement has created uncertainty for many individuals.

"Staff are being provided with outplacement support to find alternative employment and have been offered the option to transfer to Bingley."

The firm's activities range from research and development, product application, manufacture and supply, to plant monitoring, on-site maintenance and seal refurbishment.

With state-of-the-art skills in materials technology, particularly relating to materials such as elastomers, polymers, composites and engineering plastics, the successful business will be a loss to the city.

The James Walker worldwide family of companies has risen to 11 production, engineering, distribution and customer support sites in the UK and a further 40 spread across Continental Europe, Australia, New Zealand, SE Asia, South Africa and the USA.

The closure of production operations at Plymouth is planned to be completed by the end of December 2017.